ᐅ A traditional single-family home of approximately 160 m² is looking for ideas and opinions.
Created on: 19 Aug 2018 12:30
H
Helix
Hello Forum,
first of all, thank you for this platform, from which I have already gathered many suggestions and ideas.
We finally have our plot and are currently deep in the floor plan design phase.
However, since most planners have only implemented our ideas without offering creative or challenging suggestions, we are unsure if we are on the right track.
Therefore, here is our current plan along with some questions.
Thank you very much for any input!
Building regulations/restrictions
Plot size: 970 m² (approx. 10,440 sq ft)
Slope: slight incline to the south, about 1–2 m (3–6.5 ft) across the entire plot
Floor area ratio / plot ratio: 0.4 / 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see drawing
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of storeys: 1.5
Roof style: gable roof, max. 38°
Architectural style: open design
Orientation: south
Maximum heights/limits:
Maximum ridge height 9.5 m (31 ft)
Maximum eaves height 4.5 m (15 ft)
Maximum overall height 7.5 m (25 ft)
Owners’ requirements
Style, roof shape, building type
Classic with modern elements (double-height space, light band, flat roof tiles), gable roof, four-gable house
Basement, floors
1.5 storeys plus basement (everyone advises against the basement, but it is set in stone)
Number of occupants, age
2 (planning for 4)
Space requirements on ground and upper floors
Total approximately 160 m² (1,720 sq ft)
Office: family use or home office?
One office room on the upper floor, guest/office hybrid
Overnight guests per year
About 10
Open or closed architecture
Open
Traditional or modern construction
Rather traditional
Open kitchen, kitchen island
Yes, yes
Number of dining seats
6 (+2 optional)
Fireplace
No
Garage, carport
Yes, although for cost reasons the garage is currently uncertain
House design
Planner
DIY plan implemented by the builder
What do you like most and why?
- The angled passageway to the living area is a specific wish
- (Partially) covered terrace facing southwest is great
- Double-height space
What do you not like and why?
- We are not yet happy with the sofa corner with TV options; corner sofa in the room or in front of the window feels awkward.
- The main entrance is unprotected. We imagine adding a bay window (about 80 cm (31 inches)) to shelter guests from rain. Unfortunately, this makes the staircase tight. We need a good idea here.
Cost estimate according to architect/planner:
House €300,000
Basement €55,000
Garage €34,000
Additional costs and finishing €70,000
Preferred heating technology:
Ground-source heat pump with earth trench collector
If you have to give up something, which details/upgrades could you do without:
1. Colored windows
2. Prefabricated garage instead of brick garage
3. If still not affordable, carport instead of prefabricated garage
What you cannot do without:
Even though it is a cost factor: the basement is a must
Why did the design turn out as it is now? For example:
Standard plan from the designer?
- Intensive DIY brainwork implemented by the planner
- Unfortunately, little input or suggestions from the planner. It’s always just: looks good, okay, we’ll do it like that. No constructive criticism or alternatives …
What is your key/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters or less?
1. How to make the sofa corner feel cozy?
2. If the bay window is added at the entrance (see pictures “bay window”), how to fit the staircase underneath?
3. Since we had little real input from the planner: What do you think??
first of all, thank you for this platform, from which I have already gathered many suggestions and ideas.
We finally have our plot and are currently deep in the floor plan design phase.
However, since most planners have only implemented our ideas without offering creative or challenging suggestions, we are unsure if we are on the right track.
Therefore, here is our current plan along with some questions.
Thank you very much for any input!
Building regulations/restrictions
Plot size: 970 m² (approx. 10,440 sq ft)
Slope: slight incline to the south, about 1–2 m (3–6.5 ft) across the entire plot
Floor area ratio / plot ratio: 0.4 / 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see drawing
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of storeys: 1.5
Roof style: gable roof, max. 38°
Architectural style: open design
Orientation: south
Maximum heights/limits:
Maximum ridge height 9.5 m (31 ft)
Maximum eaves height 4.5 m (15 ft)
Maximum overall height 7.5 m (25 ft)
Owners’ requirements
Style, roof shape, building type
Classic with modern elements (double-height space, light band, flat roof tiles), gable roof, four-gable house
Basement, floors
1.5 storeys plus basement (everyone advises against the basement, but it is set in stone)
Number of occupants, age
2 (planning for 4)
Space requirements on ground and upper floors
Total approximately 160 m² (1,720 sq ft)
Office: family use or home office?
One office room on the upper floor, guest/office hybrid
Overnight guests per year
About 10
Open or closed architecture
Open
Traditional or modern construction
Rather traditional
Open kitchen, kitchen island
Yes, yes
Number of dining seats
6 (+2 optional)
Fireplace
No
Garage, carport
Yes, although for cost reasons the garage is currently uncertain
House design
Planner
DIY plan implemented by the builder
What do you like most and why?
- The angled passageway to the living area is a specific wish
- (Partially) covered terrace facing southwest is great
- Double-height space
What do you not like and why?
- We are not yet happy with the sofa corner with TV options; corner sofa in the room or in front of the window feels awkward.
- The main entrance is unprotected. We imagine adding a bay window (about 80 cm (31 inches)) to shelter guests from rain. Unfortunately, this makes the staircase tight. We need a good idea here.
Cost estimate according to architect/planner:
House €300,000
Basement €55,000
Garage €34,000
Additional costs and finishing €70,000
Preferred heating technology:
Ground-source heat pump with earth trench collector
If you have to give up something, which details/upgrades could you do without:
1. Colored windows
2. Prefabricated garage instead of brick garage
3. If still not affordable, carport instead of prefabricated garage
What you cannot do without:
Even though it is a cost factor: the basement is a must
Why did the design turn out as it is now? For example:
Standard plan from the designer?
- Intensive DIY brainwork implemented by the planner
- Unfortunately, little input or suggestions from the planner. It’s always just: looks good, okay, we’ll do it like that. No constructive criticism or alternatives …
What is your key/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters or less?
1. How to make the sofa corner feel cozy?
2. If the bay window is added at the entrance (see pictures “bay window”), how to fit the staircase underneath?
3. Since we had little real input from the planner: What do you think??
Let me add my two cents as well. I don’t think this is the perfect solution yet. In addition to all the points already mentioned (the slanted wall is also a big drawback for me...), I’d like to ask what you expect from the tiny open space in the entrance area? A more spacious feeling??? Definitely not. Such a small gap comes across as more ridiculous than generous. And I wonder how you’re supposed to reach the operable windows in the dormer (or am I misinterpreting the drawing)?
You’ve already swapped the bathroom and bedroom, and if you now eliminate what I see as the completely unnecessary open space in favor of more bedroom space, you might still be able to realize the wish for a walk-in closet.
And another bay window??? Help! This house already looks like a wild collection of bay windows and projections (which is costly, by the way—straight walls would be cheaper!). Please, no more complexity!
It wouldn’t be my choice at all...
You’ve already swapped the bathroom and bedroom, and if you now eliminate what I see as the completely unnecessary open space in favor of more bedroom space, you might still be able to realize the wish for a walk-in closet.
And another bay window??? Help! This house already looks like a wild collection of bay windows and projections (which is costly, by the way—straight walls would be cheaper!). Please, no more complexity!
It wouldn’t be my choice at all...
ypg schrieb:
Many things caught my attention, ... this slanted wall that I really dislike Yes, considering the "protruding corner" and the slanted wall, I wonder if the original poster is really doing themselves a favor with this covered terrace. Some things are "classically" straight, neat, and simple because they have proven to work well....
Basically, I do think a covered terrace is nice and useful, but you need enough space for it. Our house has a footprint of 9x12m (29.5x39.4 ft), and we were also suggested to have such a "cut-out" corner. We decided against it in order not to lose the (generous) sense of space on the ground floor. And honestly, our floor plan isn’t that complicated...
Another homeowner, building with the same builder (who would like to add this kind of covered terrace to every house), had such a corner "cut out," but with a floor plan of 9x15m (29.5x49.2 ft). That works. I saw the house finished just last week: with 15m (49.2 ft), it’s possible, but I didn’t necessarily like it either. And to be honest, this little covered corner is overall too small for a proper terrace. It might just work as a small smoking area. To have a real comfortable terrace, you either have to extend the covered area further or sacrifice a larger corner.
Then you can also work with fixed awnings or similar solutions.
Another homeowner, building with the same builder (who would like to add this kind of covered terrace to every house), had such a corner "cut out," but with a floor plan of 9x15m (29.5x49.2 ft). That works. I saw the house finished just last week: with 15m (49.2 ft), it’s possible, but I didn’t necessarily like it either. And to be honest, this little covered corner is overall too small for a proper terrace. It might just work as a small smoking area. To have a real comfortable terrace, you either have to extend the covered area further or sacrifice a larger corner.
Then you can also work with fixed awnings or similar solutions.
What I personally don’t like:
- That slanted wall in the living room... 1970s vibe; it just makes all the rooms feel smaller.
- Distance from couch to TV: 5 meters (16 feet)... in my opinion, that’s way too far with today’s resolutions. Even with a 65-inch screen, the ideal distance is somewhere under 3 meters (10 feet).
- Bay window clearly too small for the dining table; it will feel cramped.
- Staircase immediately in the dirty zone... you end up tracking dirt upstairs constantly, which I think is always the worst possible placement for a staircase.
- Why not swap the utility room on the ground floor with the guest bathroom? Then guests can shower without having to walk through the dirty area every time.
- I hope you’re not planning a glass door to the living area... because then from the hallway and stairs, you’ll always have a clear view right onto the couch… kids coming home (possibly with partners you don’t know) will see everything if you’re relaxing there in sweatpants.
- The awkward layout caused by the bay window and covered area is too much; the house isn’t big enough for that. The covered area is only enough for two people to sit, and that’s it.
- Definitely get rid of the tiny open space, or at least see something like that in person! As my predecessor said, it just doesn’t work. An open space truly needs significant size to have the desired effect.
- That slanted wall in the living room... 1970s vibe; it just makes all the rooms feel smaller.
- Distance from couch to TV: 5 meters (16 feet)... in my opinion, that’s way too far with today’s resolutions. Even with a 65-inch screen, the ideal distance is somewhere under 3 meters (10 feet).
- Bay window clearly too small for the dining table; it will feel cramped.
- Staircase immediately in the dirty zone... you end up tracking dirt upstairs constantly, which I think is always the worst possible placement for a staircase.
- Why not swap the utility room on the ground floor with the guest bathroom? Then guests can shower without having to walk through the dirty area every time.
- I hope you’re not planning a glass door to the living area... because then from the hallway and stairs, you’ll always have a clear view right onto the couch… kids coming home (possibly with partners you don’t know) will see everything if you’re relaxing there in sweatpants.
- The awkward layout caused by the bay window and covered area is too much; the house isn’t big enough for that. The covered area is only enough for two people to sit, and that’s it.
- Definitely get rid of the tiny open space, or at least see something like that in person! As my predecessor said, it just doesn’t work. An open space truly needs significant size to have the desired effect.
It is what it is: if you like what we’re critiquing here, then build it that way.
However, I would also consider the exterior appearance and question whether it’s necessary to fit that much into one house. A captain’s house traditionally has one gable, not two. But you want two. Then you also want the entrance of a Lower Saxony-style house by recessing the entrance. Inside, this creates a pseudo-sized void space, which would be criticized even in modern houses. In a traditional style, this doesn’t fit at all. So please stick with your slanted wall and the double-leaf door.
By shifting the staircase by one meter (about 3 feet). What is simple to do on the lower level must be adjusted upstairs: the central wall is moved by this meter or a bit more. This will make the rooms different sizes.
My advice to you traditionalists: omit the rear bay including the gable. Swap kitchen and living room… adjust sizes accordingly. I clearly see the guest room on the right, the toilet on the left.
And if the staircase still fits, then move some walls upstairs. The bathroom would also be on the left, and so on.
However, I would also consider the exterior appearance and question whether it’s necessary to fit that much into one house. A captain’s house traditionally has one gable, not two. But you want two. Then you also want the entrance of a Lower Saxony-style house by recessing the entrance. Inside, this creates a pseudo-sized void space, which would be criticized even in modern houses. In a traditional style, this doesn’t fit at all. So please stick with your slanted wall and the double-leaf door.
Helix schrieb:
If there is a bay window at the entrance (see pictures "Erker"), how do you fit the staircase underneath?
By shifting the staircase by one meter (about 3 feet). What is simple to do on the lower level must be adjusted upstairs: the central wall is moved by this meter or a bit more. This will make the rooms different sizes.
My advice to you traditionalists: omit the rear bay including the gable. Swap kitchen and living room… adjust sizes accordingly. I clearly see the guest room on the right, the toilet on the left.
And if the staircase still fits, then move some walls upstairs. The bathroom would also be on the left, and so on.
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